Dough molding machine



Aug. 4, 1931. l.. s. HARBER OUGH HOLDING CHINE Filed June l, 1927 Z'Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 4, Y1931. 1 s. HARBER 1,816,344

DOUGH MOLDING MACHINE Filed June l. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 7 i: a' a 25 '/l/l/l/lll//ll/l/Llill/111111111111111 Patented Aug.`4, 1931 Unirse STATES PATENT OFFICE' HARBER, OF PETER-BOROUGH, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO BAKER PERKINS COMPANY, INCORPORATED, 0F SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK VDorienl MoLnINe MACHINE j Application filed June 1, 1927. Serial' No. 195,742.

This invention relatestoj dough molding machines and inoi'e particularly to dough molding` machines of the type in which a sheet of dough is coiledj into a spiral roll and molded into a loafof the desired size and shape. f f

@One object of the present invention is to improve the construction and mode of operation ot dough molding machines and to pro` vide such machines With mechanism which Will' effect a bettermolding operation' than prior machines. I

` A piece of dough 'entering the loaf`-form ing channel ofI a molding machine, should first be subjected to suilicient pressure to seal the surface so that its mass iscompletely surrounded'by an unbroken and uninterrupted elastic skin; This skin is frequently delicate and incapable of resisting furtherstretching and it is, therefore, important to diminish' the pressure accordingly duringthev further Y travel of theloafy through the molding mament laterally of the channel.

chine. In the present machine, the pressure onthe piece of dough is diminishedk automatically. and gradually Afrom the inlet tothe outlet of the molding channel.

' A feature of the present invention consist-s in the provision, in a machine of the character above outlined, of means for adjusting the pressure to which the dough is subjected upon entering the inolding'channel. Another feature ofthe invention consists in the provision of side Walls for the mold-4 ing channel arranged'for relative'adjustrlhis adjustment enables the Width of the thereby the lengt-h of the molded loaves to be varied. In the present'machine, the side Walls of the molding channel extend out Wardly from the channel beyond the molding surface of one of themoldiiig. plates, the side Walls engaging'the side edgesof this plate. To .compensate for vany relative adjustment of vthe side Walls the sure plate may be replaced by other plates ofdiiferent Widths. A

Another feature of the invention relates tothe provision of means for adjusting the pressure exerted upon the dough throughout its passage through the rmolding mechanism.

channel and latter pres- This pressure is preferably produced by gravity action so that a yielding pressure results and the adjustment of this pressure enables just the right action to be vsecured t0l mold the dough properly Withoutinjuring i the dough.

Cert-ain other features of the invention relate to means for preventing abnormally large molded loaves or two adhering moldedf Other features oit the invention relate to certain novel and improved constructions, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter ed out in the claims, the advantages of which will be readily understood andappi'eciated by those skilled in the art.

The invention Will be clearly understood from the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention in its preferred form and the following detailed description ofthe constructions therein shown. In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal view in vertical section; y j

Fig. 2 is a view in horizontal section of the mechanism shown in Fig. l, taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. l; Y

Fig. 3 is a View iii vertical section of a portion of: the mechanism shown in Fig. l, said view beingy taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

F ign is a vieu,7 in vertical section of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. l, takenv tion of themechaiiism shown in Fig. Yl takeny 6-6 of said figure;

and y Fig. 7 is a View in vertical sectionof the substantially on the line mechanism upon the dough receiving means. In the described and particularly point tion of amechanism embodyingthe inven-j Y discharge chute structure taken substantially on the line 77 ofFig. 1.

The dough molding mechanism shown in the drawings of this `application is intended for use in connection with mechanism for rolling batches of dough into a sheet and then ceiling this sheet into the form'V of a vspiral and deliveringl the same to th-e present mech-l anism. The present mechanism may be advantageously used in connection 'with `a dough-roll1ngmechanism of the general type disclosed in Vapplicants co-pending application, Serial No. 21,763 filed April A9, 1925. The dough-molding mechanism of the pres- "entinvention was designedxas animprove-V ment on the dough-molding mechanism shown and described invlapplicants co-pencling application referred to above.i v Y The dough-molding mechanism illustrated in the drawingscomprises an upper pressure l Y plate 1, a lower pressure plate Q spaced from said 4upper plate and side plates 32nd l arrange'dto form a. molding channel, the pressure plates 1 .and 2 forming the upper and lower walls of thev channefL and the plates 3 and 4 forming the side walls of the channel. The ldough is impelled through this molding channel'by'means of an endless belt 5 pass- 9 Aextending within the rollerv and through tlie shaft. rEhe shaft 10 is rotatably mounted in bearings 12 formed on the frame 1 3 of( the machine andthe shaft is driven by means of afsproclret wheel 14 rigidly-fixed to one end of the shaft. The shaftl is held invposition longitudinally by the engagement of the sprocket 1a with the frame and by the engagement of a collarl lined to thegopposite A. ends of the shaft with said frame. n f V.The upper pressure'plate is mounted forr movement Vtoward and from the lower pressure plate and 1s acted upon by gravity which causes the same to exert a yielding pressure on the dough as it passes through the moldL ingchannel. In order thatthe dough may be subjected to a vgradually diminishing'pressure as it passes through the molding channel, the upper pressurev plate is pivoted upon a substantially horizontal axis locatedA cent the y'entrance end=of the molding channel to swing vertically toward and from the lower molding plate.' As shown inthe draw-vv ings, the upper pressure plate is formed with side ribs v16 andl` with arms -17 at one. end

roller.

`tering `the loaf forming or molr thereof which embrace the roller 6 and are provided with bearings 18 in which the shaft 10 engages'. 4Thus the upper molding plate is pivotally supported upon tae shaft 10. At the outlet end of the molding channel, the pressure plate 1 is provided with two sets of arms embracing the ends of the roller 7 and provided with slots in which are mounted bearings for the shaft which carries said Each set of these arms comprises an outerr arm 19 and. an inner arm 26, each formed with slots and in said slots is adjustably `mounted a bearing bloclr 20 in which one end of the shaft 21 is journaled. Upon the shaft 21v is secured the roller 7 by means of pins 25 passingthrough inwardly extending bosses 24 andthrough the shaft. This construction yenables, the shaft 21 to vbe adjusted longitudinally ofthe upper pressure plate to regulate the tensionV on the belt` lhe bearings are adjustedby means of screws 27 threaded intotheframe of the uppermolding plate and engaging thebearing blocks 20. The shaft 21' is held in position longitudinally within the bearings 2OV by means of collars 22 secured to the shaftand arranged to engage said bearings.

ln the construction above described, the piecesY of dough passing'through the molding channel are subjected to the pressure Yproduced by gravitational 'action' upon the upper moldingjplate, the belt 5 and the parts which s ring with the same about the shaft l0. Y ln order to diminish this pressure, if the weight of the parts which swing about the shaft 10 isV such as to subject the dough to a pressure too heavy for eflicient molding of the saine under 'certain conditions, the frame of the upper molding plate is provided with arms or bars 2S extending from the shaft 10 in a drection opposite to that in which the molding plate extends, and these bars are provider respectively with hooks arranged to receive counterweights of any desiredfma-ss. rlhus, these weights will partiallyV counterbalance the weight Vof the upper pressure plate 1 andthe parts at the right of the anis o f the shaft 10 (Figurel) which move about the shaft withV said plate. Y

lrestated above, trie pieces of dough en-V y Turg channel should first be subjected to sufficient pressure tol sealV the surface of the dough so that its `mass is completely surrounded ly an uninterrupted Yand'un'brolren elastic skin. The pressure required to secure this` result may vary with different dough compositions and under different conditions. lt is, therefore, desirablevthat the operatorshould be able to adjust thepressure exerted upon the dough when iU enters the dough molding channel. To this end, in the present machine, the left hand end of the lower kpressureplate is adjustable vertically toward and from the upper pressure plate; The lower pressure plate inforcements 3Q which. engage eccentrics 31 fixed to shaft32 rotatably mounted in bearings-33 on the frame of the machine. The shaft 32carries a, hand wheel 34 rigidly se,- cured toone end of the shafty andy the shaft is held in adjusted position by means of a spring-pressed locking pin 36 mounted in the hand wheel and arranged to engage any one ofaseries of recesses in the disc 36a attached tothe frame, Thus by rotatably adjusting the hand wheel34, the eccentrics 3l may be adjusted to raise or lower the end of the pressure plate 2 adjacent the entrance end ofl the molding channel. Y

. In order to vary the width of the molding channel and thereby varythe length of the loaves moldedtherein, the'side walls 3 and 4 arev mounted for; adjustment laterally of the molding channel. The sidewalls ofthe channel in the present construction overlap the side flanges 29 on the lower pressure plate 2.

To compensate for any adjustment of the side wallslaterally of the molding channel, a lower pressure plate of a different width should Vbe substituted for the lower pressure plate employed` prior to this adjustment. The side walls 3 and4 of themolding channel are at tached to brackets 45, 46, 52 and 53 suspended from shafts 37', 38 and 39 extending across the upper pressure pla-te. The brackets 52 and 53 are slidably mounted on the shafts 38 and 3 which are secured within bosses 48 upon the upper press-ure plate, Theshaft 37 is rotatably mounted ina hearing in a boss 40 formed in the upper pressure plate and is held from longitudinal movementl therein by means of collars 4l secured to the shaft on Opposite sides of the boss.V Shaft 37 passes through openings 42 in the ribs lfof'the upper pressure plate lV and is formed withthreadedfend portions 43 and 44v engaging in threaded 45 and 46. A hand the left-hand endl of for rotatin g, the shaft.

openings in the brackets wheel y 47 is attached to the shaft 37u( Figure 4) As shown clearly in Figure 4, the threaded portions43 and 44 on the shaft 37 are formed Y respectively with right and'lefthand threads so that the rotation of the shaft will adjust the brackets 45 and 46 and the sidewalls 3 andv 4 of the molding channel toward and from-each other. As shown clearly in the drawings, the side walls3 and 4 are right-anguiar in cross section and these walls are sus pended fromthe upperv pressure plate lV with just suilicientlclearance provided between'theupper portions of the side walls and the up'- perl pressure plate tovallow the edges of the belt5 to engage-andinove readily between thesame.v The sidewalls thus form guides for the marginal portionsof the belt'which i moves freely between the upper pressure plate and the upper flanges of the side walls and is in contact at its margin, Aor substantially in contact` with both.` side walls and plate.`

dough is substantially completely surrounded by an unbroken and uninterrupted elastic skin. This pressure is produced by the passage of the piece of dough betieen the for ward end of the lower pressure plate and the belt 5 at the point where said belt extends about the roller 6. The lower pres ire plate and the roller are relatively immovable away from each other so that the dough is subjected to the greatest pressure as enters the molding channel. As a piece of dough isk rolled through the molding' channel by the action of the belt, the belt and the upper pressure plate are supporte-1 by the piece of dough. Therefore, as the dough pas-ses through the channel, pressure exerted on the :-::une,.pro.

duced by the actinn of gravity on the belt 5, the pressure plate and the parts supported on the plate a` r Located atthe right of the axis of the sha-ft l0, Fig, l.. This pressure, however, produced by gravity, gradually diminishes as ythe piece ef'doug'h,progresses toward the discharge end of the molding channel on account ofthe diminution in leverage' which isdelicate and often incapable of resisting further stretching. This gradual diminution in pressure is, therefore, an important feature in that it greatly reducesthe liability of breaking' the skin of the dough piece during` the rolling operation.

At a point adjacent the discharge end of the molding;- channel, means is provided for limiting the downward movement of the upper pressure plate and the pressure roll 7. This means is arranged for adjustment to ad just the height of the molding channel in accordance with the requirements of the dough pieces to Lbe molded.

ln the construction shown, a shaft ei:- tending across the underside of the lower molding,- plate is rotatably mounted in bearings and 56 on the frame of the machine. This shaft supports the discharge end of the lower moldingv'plate which is provided with bearings 57 and 58journaledon said shaft. Upon the shaft 54 is secured eccentrics 59 and 60 which are arranged to yengage respectively the lower edges ofthe side walls `3 and 4 of the molding. channel; These side walls are attached -to the upper molding plate in the manner described above it enters llt) able vertically'therewith. .'The engagement of the lower edges of the side walls 3 and 4l with the eccentrics 59 and 60, therefore, limits 'he'downwardmovement of the upper pres'- sure plate and the pressure roll 7. ,'ihe shaft 5A is provided ,at its left-hand end', Fig. 6, with a hand-wheel 6l for rotating the shaft.

` Theshaft is arranged to be loclred in adjusted position by n Y tuated by a spring 63 and arranged to engage veyor. In the present construction, this mechanism comprises a discharge chute extending downwardly at an angle to the molding channel at the discharge end ef the channel. One side of this chute is formed by a plate or wall 68 extending downwardly from the discharge end of the lower pressure plate ,Zand preferably formed integral with said plate. rl`he other side of the discharge chute is formed by a plate` or wall 69 preferably arranged parallel with the plate or wall 68 and spaced from said plate at a distance suitable for the reception Vo f the molded loaves within the discharge chute. rllhe upper por'- tion of the plate or wall 69 preferably extends upwardly to a point slightly vabove the Vplane of the upper. surface of thel lower pressure plate as shown clearly in Fig. l and is connected with a receptacle 7 2 arranged beyondthe discharge chute in the direction of feed of the molding mechanism. The plate or wall 69 in the present construction is arranged for adjustment toward and from the plate or wall 68 toadjust the widthV ofthe discharge chute for loavesv of diderent sizes. As shown particularly in Figs'. l and 7 of the drawings, the plate or wall 69l and the receptacle 72V attachedl thereto are both mounted upon a slide 7 8, the ends of which vengage in horizontal guides 7A and 7o in blocks 76 and 77 mounted upon the upper ends ofthe standards and 7l. rlhe slide 7 3 carries at its underside a rack 7 8 meshing with a. gear wheel 7 9 fixed on a rotatable shaft 80, the ends of which engage inbearings 8l and 82 secured in the blocks 76 and 77. The' shaft carries at one end a collar Sli secured thereto and arranged to engage the bearing 82 and to the other end of the shaftl is secured a hand-wheel 83 engaging a flange 83a formed on the bearing 8l. By the rotation of the shaft 8O produced by a manipula.-

i tion of the hand-wheel 83, the slide 7 3 is adjusted Yin the guides 74 and 7 5 to adjust'the plate or wall 69 toward andfrom the pla-te or wallv Thus the width of the discharge chute may be adjusted to correspond with. adjustments inthe heio'ht of the molding channel as determinedby the devices at the forward'end of the lower pressure plate for adjusting the vertical position of this end of the plate and the devices at the rearvor discharge end of said plate for determining the lower limiting position of the upper plate. As will be noted from an inspection of Fig.

lof the drawings, the discharge chute isv directly below the pressure roller 7 over which the belt 5 passes at the discharge end of the molding channel.

' Vllith this construction, any loaves too large to pass from the discharge chute and any two loaves adhering together upon reaching the discharge endof the moldingchannel will engage the upper portion 'of the plate 69 and will then be -carried by the belt 5 over the upper portion of said plate into the receptacle 72. Single Yloaves of normal size, however, upon reaching the discharge end of the molding channel will immediatelyl drop down through the discharge chute.

lt is to be understood that the terms up-V per and lower, as'applied to the pressure plates l and 2 throughout the foregoing specification are merel relative terms yand are a Y n n 7 n notte be construed as limitingfthe inven-V tion to the use of pressure plates in the position herein shown sincel it will be obvious that pressure plates may be employed in other positions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

lt is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the-particular construction and arrangement of parts ofthe illustrated embodiment of the invention, but that the invention may be embodiedin other forms within the scope of the claims.

Having explained the nature'and object of the invention and having-specifically described a machine embodying the invention in its preferred form, what is claimed isz' l. A dough molding machine having in combination, a pressure plate, a belt running across said plate,'a second pressure plate between which and the belt the dough is rolled, means for yieldingly pressing said plates t0- ward each other, means by which the distance of saidplates from each other maybe adjusted Vat the ends of said plates 'at which the dough enters, and adjustable stop means for limiting definitely the movement of the discharge end of one of said plates toward the other plate. l Y

2. A Vdough molding` machine having in combination, loaf molding means along which a mass of dough is impelled by a rotary movement of'said mass to form a loaf, a discharge chute extending downwardly at an angle tothe direction ofmovement to the dough alongsaid means for receiving the ico ,pensa by molded dough after the completion of the molding operation, and means for adjusting the width of said chute.

3. A dough molding machine having in combination, means forming a loaf molding channel along which a mass of dough is ima rotary movement oi said mass to form a loaf, a discharge chute extending downwardly at an angle to said channel for receiving the molded dough alter the completion of the molding operation, a dough-impelling means located along the upper portion of said channel, said impelling means extending across the upper end of said chute.

4. A dough molding machine having in combination, means for molding pieces ci dough into substantially cylindrical loaves, and means for separating abnormall i large molded loaves or adhering molded loaves from single molded loaves of normal size.

5. A dough moulding` machine having in combination, means for molding pieces of dough into substantially cylindrical loaves, and means for separat-ing abnormally large molded' loaves or adhering molded loaves from single molded loaves of normal size and discharging the same into a separate receptacle.

6. A dough molding machine having in combination, means for molding pieces of dough into substantially cylindrical loaves, a

discharge passage through which molded loaves of normal size are discharged, and means for preventing abnormally large molded loaves or adhering molded loaves from passing through said passage and for discharging' the same at a separate point. v

7. A dough molding machine having in combination a pressure plate, a pivotally mounted pressure plate opposed thereto, an endless belt running on said pivota-lly mounted pressure plate, the dough being molded in the space between the belt and the other pressure plate, side walls extending along the opposite sides of said dough molding space, and supports provided on the said pivoted pressure plate to carry the side walls. Y

8. A dough molding machine having in combination a pressure plate, a. yieldingly mounted pressure plate opposed thereto, an endless belt running on one of said pressure plates, the dough beingv molded in the space between the said belt and the other pressure plate, sidewalls extending to the saidV belt and beyond the side edges of said other plate, and means provided on one of the plates to support said walls and to regulate their distance from each other. 4

9. AV dough molding machine having in combination, dough molding means along' which the deughis rolled, a chute extending downwardly at angle to the direction of movement of the dough along said means for receivno the dough after the completion of the melding operation, means for Aadjust,ing

the width of said chute for determining the maximum size of molded loaf passing therethrough and a receptacle for receiving the molded loaves too large to pass through said chute.

l0. A dough molding machine having in combinatiom afflower pressure plate, an upper pressure plate, means for impelling the dough to be molded between said pressure plates, and a' discharge chute arranged to extend in a. downward direction and positioned at the discharge end of said pressure plates, said chute comprising relatively adjustablewalls whereby only single loaves of normal size can pass therethrough.

1l'. A doughv molding'machine havin-g in combination a lower pressure plate, an upper pressure plate, means for impelling thedough t le' molded between said pressure plates, a chute arranged to extendy in a downward direction and positioned at the discharge end of said ,i rassure plates, said chute comprising twoy opposed side walls, one of which isV car-` ried by the lower pressure plate, and means for regulatingl the distance of the other wall ef said chute from said lirstwall thereof so that only single loaves of normal size can pass therethrough, while loaves of larger size are .torced over the top edge ofthey latter Wall oat the chute.

12. A dough molding machine having in combination a lower pressure plate, an upper pressure plate, and side walls forming a dough molding channel, means for impelling pieces of dough throughsaid channel, a discharge chute comprising two spaced side walls extending downwardly from said chanel', means for adjustably supporting one of said? walls, whereby the width of the chu-te maybe adjusted to determine they size' o-f the molded loaves passing through said chute, and a receptacle attached to the latter side wall to receive abnormally vlarge loaves.k

y13.. A dough molding machine having in combination, opposed walls forming a mold ing channel, means for rolling the dough between said walls, means lor yieldingly pressing said walls towards each other, and means arranged to receive molded loaves from said molding channel for separating abnormally large loaves or adhering loaves` from single loaves of normal size.

lll, A dough molding machine of the type described having in combination a lower pressure plate, an upper pressure plate pivotally mounted at the entrance ci the dough molding channel, an endless belt running on said upper plate, side walls enclosing the space between the lower run of the belt and the said lower plate and extending below the side edges of the latter, means located adjacent the entrance of the dough moldinqchannel for adjusting* the position of the iai l el plate 'to re' slate the dish ree of the sud lower plate frein the said belt, and adjustable means In ISO degree.

cated adjacent the exit of the dough molding channel .for engaging the said side walls to 'I limit the distance ot-the lower plate from the said belt, y, Y

15. A dough molding machine of the type described having in combination an upper pressure plate, alower` pressure plate, between which and the said belt the dough pieces are rolled, means for pivotally supporting the said upper plate.

.for movement toward and from the said lower plate, thesaid pivotedv upper plate being pressed toward the said lower plate by gravity, and means for adjusting the pressure of said pivoted upper plate on the dough pieces by counterbalancing thi'splate to the required 16.VV A dough molding machine of the type described having in combination a lower pressure plate, an upper pressure plate pivotally arranged above the said lower plate andforming a channel between said pressure plates, means for impelling the dough pieces throughsaid channel, a receptacle, a chute consisting of two .parallel spaced plates eX- tendingdownwards, the inner of which is connected with the exit end of the lower pressure plate, a receptacle carried by the outer plate, supporting means for the outer plate, andrmeans for adjusting the distance of the outer plate from the inner plate and the receptacle therewith so that only single loaves of ,normal size canpass through said chute andthose of larger size drop over the top edge of the outer plate thereof into theL said receptacle. t

17. A dough molding machine having in combination opposed upper and lower walls i forming a molding channel between which e walls pieces of dough are rolled to mold theA `same into loaf form, and means arranged to Vreo'eiverthe molded loaves from said molding channel forseparating abnormally large loaves or adhering loaves from single loaves K of normal size.

LAURENCE ySEYMOUR HARBER.

a belt running on said plate, 

